Organized crime expert: We may be finally witnessing the fall of “El Chapo” Guzman

An organized crime expert in Mexico recently declared that we might finally be witnessing the fall of drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and his Sinaloa Cartel, considered by law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border as the most powerful drug trafficking organization in the world.

Award-winning Mexican journalist Anabel Hernandez recently told Aristegui NoticiasEl Chapo’s criminal empire is under serious threat by rival drug cartels, and it very well could result in a fracturing within the Sinaloa Cartel in the wake of his incarceration and impending extradition to the United States.

In her assessment, Hernandez pointed to recent developments including attacks on his organization and even members of his family as further evidence of his decline.

“For the first time we may be seeing “the real fall of ‘Chapo’ Guzmán,” Hernandez noted. “He no longer controls even his own house.”

The journalist added, “as a consequence, the fall is prompted not by the actions of the government but by his own family.”

Hernández cited high-level sources, who confirmed previous reports that the nephew of Guzman, Alfredo Beltrán Guzmán, alias “El Mochomito”of the rival Beltrán Leyva Organization (BLO), has forged an alliance with the ruthless Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), in an effort to mount a challenge against a weakened “El Chapo” and his Sinaloa Cartel.

The correspondent for Proceso Magazine and author said Guzman’s declining power along with the fracturing of his organization became evident in June after Beltran-Leyva gunmen attacked the home of El Chapo’s mother in La Tuna, Sinaloa.

After five days in captivity, both of Guzman’s sons were released unharmed following high-level negotiations between top leadership figures of both organizations.

Moreover, Hernandez suggests a recent attack on a military convoy in Culiacan that killed five soldiers, which was blamed on Guzman’s sons, may have instead been perpetrated by Beltran-Guzman in an attempt to cause a disruption in the Sinaloa Cartel’s stronghold.

An analysis byInsight Crime said that although the Mexican government immediately blamed the sons of El Chapo’s for the attack, officials have recently backtracked on the allegations and have largely remained silent as to who may have been responsible.

Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was apprehended back in January town of Los Mochis, Sinaloa after spending six months on the run following his second escape from prison

As JammedUp News previously reported, Guzman’s attorney has staunchly denied Chapo’s sons had any involvement in the attack and said the brothers repudiated the events of Sept. 30th, which led to the death of the soldiers.

According to Insight Crime, Guzman’s impending extradition to the United States which is becoming more likely by the day means “his criminal empire is likely beginning to fragment, not only in his home state of Sinaloa but across Mexico.”

As a result of the fracturing of the Sinaloa Cartel, rival criminal groups will continue to attempt to take over territories previously under the control of El Chapo.

One such territory where a mounting challenge is occurring is in the state of Baja, California Surwhere the CJNG have allied with the remaining remnants from the Tijuana Cartel to mount a hostile takeover of the Tijuana trafficking corridor.

Moreover, the CJNG have also gone to war with the Sinaloa cartel in the state of Colima, in an attempt to wrestle control of the strategic port of Manzanillo.

Hernandez says as the Sinaloa Cartel continues to fragment, an escalation of violence is expected as rival organizations seek to take advantage of a weakening criminal organization, which will certainly affect the street price of drug smuggled into the United States.